I was deeply saddened to see Professor Emeritus Chuck Overby’s attempt to denigrate mayoral candidate Randy Morris in a letter for his military service.
This shameful attempt to portray Morris’ service as something that would result in antidemocratic tendencies by someone trained solely to kill is reprehensible. First, military service is the bedrock of democracy.
Consider excerpts from the military officer’s oath: “I … do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same … So help me God.”
For more than 200 years, U.S. military officers have faithfully carried out the orders of their civilian government, regardless of political affiliation, enabling our democracy to endure as a beacon of freedom.
What Professor Overby misses is that it is our democratic republic that sends the soldier, pilot, sailor and marine into combat. To denigrate military service is to denigrate the very democracy he wishes to protect.
Regarding how military service might enhance one’s qualifications for mayor, note that the mayor is an executive, requiring considerable leadership and management expertise.
My brief military stint as an Army officer after ROTC taught me much. After military service and before coming back to the academy, I served in industry as a manager, director, vice president, president, CEO and chairman at consulting, systems integration, telecommunication and startup companies.
By far, I can tell you that the most challenging, difficult and valuable job of my career was as platoon leader in the U.S. Army. Among the many things learned was that military service is an incubator for achievement. Those who rise do so on merit.
However, I think the most endearing lesson was that you must take care of those you have the honor to lead and manage.
Professor Overby portrays military leaders as dictatorial gods. In fact, in the military, if you give dumb orders, you will be out of a job. Good leaders forge consensus.
Good leaders have integrity. A long, successful career in the military is indicative of an honest, flexible, resourceful and competent leader.
If Professor Overby is concerned about democracy in Athens, perhaps he should be more concerned with the current state of “one-party rule” in Athens city and county.
Such situations foster “group think” and squelch spirited, honest debate and disagreement, possibly missing chances to forge the best solutions.
One-party rule also weakens checks and balances. As evidenced during the past few years, one-party rule has contributed to significant ethical lapses and errors in judgment on the part of Democratic officials and office holders.
Perhaps an occasional Republican, such as Jill Thompson and Randy Morris, in a sea of Democrats is a healthy thing for the city and county of Athens.
Andy Snow is a professor in the J. Warren McClure School of Information and Telecommunication Systems.
